There?s always a first time
By Recah Trinidad
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 03 Jan 2012
THE morning after the noisy, mindless New Year revelry, a filmy haze ? smog actually ? slid across like a mask across the old face of the metropolis.
The early morning street I walk through daily in Mandaluyong was free of garbage, there was no lawless clog of human and vehicular traffic.
Suddenly, everything out on the asphalt alley shone honestly new and young ? a dream.
Thanks to the faceless heroes -- the joyless street sweepers and garbage pickers -- who toiled all night long, till the wee hours of the next day, to help lend a happy picture even only for the first minutes of the infant year.
**
When was the last time an early riser had savored one hope-filled local New Year scene?
It was one rare, unforgettable morning, a first of its kind, for most metro dwellers, both young and old.
There?s always a first time.
Thus, a similar question must be asked a bout Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Benjamin Abalos, even Jovito Palparan.
It may have occurred only in their wildest dreams.
But, for both Arroyo and Abalos, it was obviously their first occasion to be arrested and held?
**
There?s always a first time.
But who would?ve dreamt President Aquino would grow fast into a fearless, fighting leader (tyrant?) after several nervous bungles in his first year in office?
Do remember that even the President?s revered mother, Cory Aquino, had a sensational ascent, one that generated boundless hope for total national renewal, only to fall prey to officials she had hand-picked.
For the record, P-Noy has been waging a war against crippling corruption developed into a culture by several crooks officially hired by his mother.
After Cory, didn?t Erap Estrada also trap us into believing and hoping big following his straight-faced ?walang kamaka-mag-anak, walang, kai-kaibigan? inaugural pledge?
**
Noynoy Aquino?
There was nothing new at the start; everything was dragging into the same old rotten routine.
The anti-wang-wang inaugural and the kayo-ang-boss-ko vow were slipping fast into another obscene promise.
Anyway, call P-Noy a slow learner, whatever, but when push came to shove, he firmly stood his ground like his father?s son.
First, he refused to be tricked into granting GMA--who poised the need for urgent medical treatment abroad--despite all the attendant gimmickry resorted into by the accused.
Then, after the Supreme Court, led by Arroyo appointed Chief Justice Renato Corona, tried to save the former President, Noynoy Aquino sprang a legal coup, through the electoral fraud case filed with the Pasay City Fiscal?s Office.
Aquino also denied the request for either house or hospital arrest by the beleaguered former President.
**
No, it was not an entirely neat and popular move but, in the process, Aquino had shown that he has matured fast from an amateurish belly-aching leader into a determined reformer.
His moves, like or not, have provided new hope for the country, albeit momentarily.
Meanwhile, out there in my stretch of metro street, it did not take a whole day for monster chaos to return and take over.
It was back to the boiling nightmare, people and vehicles going any which way they preferred, garbage wantonly raining all over.
Yes, it would take a miracle for cleanliness and order to be regularly restored in the city of our affections.
At least, unlike in that fleeting memorable New Year morning, P-Noy no longer seemed like a soft, fast-fading dream.
In fact, when he shook a mean hand with Justice Corona, the President no longer seemed angry and frantic.
For the first time, he loomed both noble and brave.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Dreamland: Where Filipino Fists Lit Up San Francisco Nights
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Mon, 28 Apr 2025IM Concio wins Victoria Sports Club Rapid Chess Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 28 Apr 2025Tapales bags WBC International Silver super bantamweight title
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 28 Apr 2025Boston, NY and Minnesota One Win Away; Push Orlando, Detroit and LAL on Brink
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 28 Apr 2025Sasaki Guns for Japan's First World Welterweight Title, Honor as Asia's Best Asian Boxing Nation
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 28 Apr 2025Raga beats Bañares in SBA Philippine Open, pockets ₱400,000 cash prize
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 28 Apr 2025OK-C You Next Season, Memphis
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sun, 27 Apr 2025Eubank Jr. Edges Benn in Thrilling Grudge Match for the Ages
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 27 Apr 2025Due to Illness, H2O Syve Withdraws from Tonight’s Bout
Sun, 27 Apr 2025Filipino FM Ivan Travis Cu runner-up in Budapest First Saturday Chess Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 27 Apr 2025Home Teams Rule the Day
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sat, 26 Apr 2025Marlon Tapales Makes Weight for WBC International Title Fight in Gensan
Sat, 26 Apr 2025WELTERWEIGHT ERIC TUDOR TAKES UNANIMOUS DECISION OVER KEVIN JOHSON IN MAIN EVENT OF ‘LA FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS’ FROM THUNDER STUDIOS AND LIVE ON DAZN
Sat, 26 Apr 2025Eubank vs Benn: Like Father Like Son
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 26 Apr 2025Eubank Jr. Misses Weight Ahead of Highly Anticipated Benn Clash
Sat, 26 Apr 2025